Category: News in Brief

Regional harbours to be taken over by MPL

Two regional harbours in the Maldives are to be taken over by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), it has been announced.

CEO of MPL, Mahdhy Imad, said both Gan and Kulhudhuffushi harbours were not being maintained properly and will not develop if the current model continues to be followed.

Speaking to SunOnline, he said: “Because we would be able to operate them better, we have decided to take over them. We will not make much profit from them.”

According to Imad, the harbours will be made independent only after they can stand on their own two feet, and there will be no changes made to the prices of services.

“Because we are experiencing tough times economically, we plan to stick to the current model and same fees, and move forward slowly,” he added.

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Religious NGO Salaf to hold children’s evening

Religious NGO Jamiyythul Salaf has announced the organisation is planning a special event next Thursday for children, hosted by former singer Ali Rameez and Ahmed Simau.

The NGO said that the event will be named ‘Banoon’ and will be held at the Artificial Beach from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.

The event includes religious poems, advice from Sheikhs, dramas and stories. In addition, during the event children will be given gifts and the opportunity to show their talents on stage.

Salaf has appealed to all parents to participate.

On the same night, Salaf said there will be Q&A program for adults based on the topic ‘Faith and Salah’.

The program will start at 9:00pm and will end at 11:00pm. Five Sheikhs will be on the panel to answer the questions by attendees.

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Taxi drivers to strike over decision to fine illegally parked vehicles

Taxi drivers across Male are set to go on strike on Monday in protest of the Transport Ministry’s decision to issue stickers on illegally parked vehicles.

Abdulla Ibrahim, who is leading the protest, highlighted the lack of parking spaces in the capital, alleging the government is going ahead with the idea without a proper plan.

According to Mr Ibrahim, taxi centres will not accept the Transport Ministry’s decision to issue stickers under the current circumstances.

Speaking to Haveeru Online, he said: “There is no room to park cars. If we park the car for breakfast, there will be a sticker. There will be a sticker for afternoon and evening, we will have to spend a lot of money.

“We will gather at Raalhugandu Area and from there we will go to the Transport Ministry with posters and banners.”

9292 Taxi Centre has said that four pickup centres and nine taxi centres will participate in the protest.

According to the Transport Authority, stickers issued on illegally parked cars will carry a fine of MVR 250 (US$16) for the first, MVR 500 (US$32) for the second and MVR 750 (US$48) for each following sticker.

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Employees of health corporations transferred to Civil Service

Employees working under the health corporations have been transferred to the civil service from the first of November.

According to local media reports, the Health Ministry informed all health corporations across the country that their employees would be transferred to the Civil Service last week.

However, reports suggested that health corporations have not been yet abolished and the framework of employees in the corporations have not been adjusted to that of the Civil Service.

According officials from health corporations, the new change would mean that wages of employees would be adjusted in accordance with the wages set for the civil servants by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), although a decision on the matter is yet to be made.

The decision to transfer all the employees of health corporations came following discussion in cabinet.

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Government to form institution providing pilgrimage services

The Islamic Ministry has said it will form the “Maldivian People’s Hajj Fund”, an institution that will work to provide affordable pilgrimage services.

In a press conference Islamic Affairs Minister Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said the purpose of the institution was to provide people with the opportunity to go on the hajj, by paying a smaller amount of money.

He also added that work was under way in preparing the documents needed to be presented to the cabinet to discuss the matter.

Shaheem added that he had already discussed about the proposal with President Mohamed Waheed Hassan and Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad.

Shaheem further said that even if a person deposited money to the fund, it would not necessarily mean that he would be granted with a placement from the quota of pilgrimages that the Maldives receives from Saudi Arabia.

According to the Minister, the institution would be formed on the principles of a similar institution set up in Malaysia.

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New soft loan scheme to be launched by BML

A new loan scheme is to be introduced by the Bank of Maldives (BML) following its previous soft loan plan, the bank has announced.

BML has previously issued MVR 15,000 (US$970) loans without a mortgage as part of their soft loan scheme, which the bank claimed had proven popular with the public.

The new scheme will be an extension of the existing plan, however BML has not stated its ceiling value or interest rates.

Only BML customers who have had their salaries deposited into their respective accounts continuously for one year will be eligible for the new soft loan scheme.

BML have stated that the new product will not require customers to submit quotations, and that the service is expected to commence soon.

The previous MVR 15,000 small loan scheme will not be ceased with the introduction of the new plan, the bank said.

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MTDC share price lowered from MVR100 to MVR10

The Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has approved lowering the face value of its shares from MVR 100 (US$6.5) to MVR 10 (US$0.65) at the government company’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday night, reports Sun Online.

Following the decision, each share previously purchased would become ten shares. A proposal to hold an extraordinary meeting of shareholders within the next three months to made amendments to the company’s regulations was also approved at the 2011 AGM.

MTDC meanwhile reported an annual loss of US$3.8 million in 2011 and dividends were not distributed to shareholders.

MTDC was formed in 2006 to develop 15 resorts across the country.

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Women’s development committees elected amid low turnout

Elections took place in 102 islands across the country on Wednesday for women’s development committees to function under island and city councils.

Candidates for six seats in Male’ were elected by default as only one candidate contested for the seats.

Candidates from the formerly ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) were elected to all eleven seats of the women’s committee in the capital Male’.

Turnout in the capital was however low. Of 2,013 eligible voters from the Hulhu-Henveiru district, only 223 women cast their ballots.

In other constituencies in Male’ turnouts stood at 211 out of 1,814 in mid-Henveiru, 159 out of 1,479 in Galolhu North and 142 out of 1,800 in Manchangoalhi North.

Following the election, MDP Chairperson and MP for Hulhu-Henveiru, ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, congratulated the winning candidates and expressed gratitude to the party’s women’s wing, elections committee and secretariat for conducting a successful campaign.

MDP candidates were also elected to women’s committees in Noonu Velidhoo and Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo.

Local Government Authority (LGA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Shukuree however told local daily Haveeru on November 4 that there were no candidates from 44 islands.

Under article 36 of the landmark Decentralisation Act (Dhivehi), the powers and responsibilities of women’s committees are: (a) Advise island council on matters related to island development and municipal services provided by the council; (b) Own properties and conduct business activities with others in the name of the committee; (c) Sue and be sued in the name of the committee; (d) Conduct various activities for income generation and for the development of women; (e) Work to uphold the rights of women; (f) Work to increase religious awareness amongst women; (g) Work to increase political participation of women; (h) Work to increase the numbers of women enrolled in higher  education; (i) Work to improve the health condition of women; (j) Gather important information related to women; (k) Manage assets and finance of the committee.

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Bank of Maldives opens new branch

The Bank of Maldives Plc Ltd (BML) opened a new branch in Male’ at the ground floor of the STO trade centre to provide cash withdrawal and deposit services.

The new branch or BML Lite was opened by Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Governor Dr Fazeel Najeeb at a ceremony on Thursday.

The new branch is an addition to the existing three branches in Male’.

“Two self-service machines are available for cash and cheque deposits at this branch. The machine is of the most popular brands used by the banks worldwide. The machine is highly secure, easy to use and has the capacity to accept up to 40 cheques at a time. Cash deposits should be made in a sealed envelope and the machine can accept up to 40 notes at a time,” according to BML.

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